New York Rangers: Enjoy it while it lasts

The New York Rangers have just five games remaining this season. Although things haven’t gone to plan, you’ve gotta enjoy it while you can.

Accepting the looming reality that hockey season is almost over with a long cruel summer ahead is one of the hardest parts of hockey season. For the Rangers, the summer will start a lot earlier than in years past. This summer should bring even more change, but it is important to not get lost dreaming about next season just yet.

With a handful of games left, the players on the ice are fighting every single shift. The Rangers moves at the trade deadline were supposed to be a white flag to the rest of the league. However, those moves galvanized the team and brought a marked improvement on the ice. The team’s possession stats are still outright dreadful. Yet, they still look better than they did a month ago.

This energy that the new guys brought has radiated up and down the lineup. Combine the new players with the return of Chris Kreider, and the team has been exciting. Kreider’s return jumpstarted Mika Zibanejad’s production and as a pair have 18 points in the last five games.

The final seven games have plenty to be excited about. The Rangers style of play is conducive to fun hockey in the sense that they both generate and surrender lots of scoring chances.

Real deal Neal

Of all the players called up from Hartford this season, Neal Pionk is the best. The Minnesota-Duluth graduate’s slick skating enables him to join the rush and be a net positive in both ends of the ice. In 21 games, the defenseman has 14 points, including the last six consecutive games.

Pionk has likely played himself into a roster spot for next season. As poor as the team’s defense has played this year, Pionk has emerged as a bright spot. The defenseman actually fits what head coach Alain Vigneault has in mind for a defenseman. It is no coincidence that Pionk leads the team in ice time on most nights because of this.

The more games that the defenseman plays, the more comfortable in the lineup he looks. The final handful of games are a huge opportunity for a player that won’t want to go back to the AHL. these young guys have everything in the world to play for and it is why the team is not tanking.

The first round picks

The anticipation around the call-ups of Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson is palpable. Without losing a year off of either’s entry-level contract, they will get a chance to play in the NHL. I previously wrote about the importance of allowing them to make mistakes and learn. This does not mean don’t be excited about first-round picks making the roster.

The Rangers as of late have had a solid track record with first round picks. The team’s last two picks, Brady Skjei and J.T Miller, were both home run picks. There is a way to balance excitement with expectations in a way that does not expect the moon right off the bat. Neither Andersson or Chytil was ready for the NHL right out of the draft which means they still have to develop.

Of the two, Chytil is the more dynamic player. The Czech center definitely has the look of an NHL quality player.

Andersson, on the other hand, is the more well rounded of the two. There was an expectation that the Swede would crack the lineup out of training camp when he was drafted. That didn’t come to fruition, but he did score a goal in his first career NHL game. Even though the Rangers were losing the game 4-0 at the time, Andersson brought the Garden alive.

The King

Henrik Lundqvist’s future is the ultimate elephant in the room for the Rangers. At age 36 he’s played a heavy workload this season and still managed to be his old self. One of the most difficult parts of professional sports is that talent isn’t permanent. The day will come when Lundqvist just isn’t himself anymore. This is why it is important to enjoy the goaltender while you can.

The goaltender is expected to return to the crease for Wednesday’s matchup against the Capitals in Washington. For his career against Washington, Lundqvist is 21-12 with a .908 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average. The Capitals always bring out the best of the goaltender and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him dial up a great performance.

Next: Setting the scene for Filip Chytil

Hockey season is gasping its final breaths for the Rangers. It won’t be long before the only hockey news is trade rumors and potential draft picks. Enjoy the Rangers while you can, there’s plenty to be appreciative for.